8th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Culture
Unit 1a: How Geographers Look at the World/The Physical World
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.5, WG8.7, WG8.8
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. How does the design of the world (and climates) reveal a designer?
3. What about the physical geography of the earth reveals a biblical view of creation?
4. Why does the study of Geography matter?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Discuss how
geography is
used in their
everyday
lives
• Learn how to
read a globe
and map
• Discuss the
different
types of maps
• Locate
longitude and
latitude points
• Examine the
different
elements of
geography
and a
geographers
methods
• Review basic
earth science
information
about the
solar system
and the earth
itself
• Lecture
• Class discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets from
the textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 1-2
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 1b: Climates of the Earth/The Human World
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.3, WG8.5, WG8.7, WG8.8, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. How does the design of the world (and climates) reveal a designer?
3. What about the physical geography of the earth reveals a biblical view of creation?
4. Why does the study of Geography matter?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Discover the
relationships
between the
earth and the
sun as it
relates to
climate and
weather
• Analyze the
factors
affecting
climate
• Examine
world climate
patterns
• Define and
discuss terms
associated
with human or
cultural
geography—
terms about
population,
culture,
politics,
economics,
industry,
resources, and
trade
• Discuss global
warming from
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 3-4
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
a Biblical
worldview and
also man’s
stewardship
responsibilitie
s
Unit 2: The United States and Canada
3 weeks
WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
state of the
U.S. and each
Canadian
province and
surrounding
bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
the United
States and
Canada
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of the United
States and
Canada
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 5-7
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 3: Latin America
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying Latin America?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in
Latin America
and
surrounding
bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
Latin America
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of Latin
America
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 8-10
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 4: Europe
3 weeks
[WG8.1, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying Europe?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in
Europe and
surrounding
bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
Europe
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of Europe
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 11-13
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 5: Russia
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.2, WG8.3, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying Europe?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment The students will:
• Label each
country in
Russia and
surrounding
bodies of water
on a blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
Russia
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture) of
Russia
• Analyze the
economic
activities in the
region today
• Lecture
• Class discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography and
Cultures ch. 14-
16
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 6: Northern Africa, Southwestern and Central Asia
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.2, WG8.3, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying the Middle East and North Africa?
4. From a Christian perspective what controversies surround the Middle East?
5. What has God said in His word that relates directly or indirectly to the religion/culture of this
region?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in N.
Africa, SW
Asia, and
Central Asia
and surrounding
bodies of water
on a blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
N. Africa, SW
Asia, and
Central Asia
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture) of
N. Africa, SW
Asia, and
Central Asia
• Analyze the
economic
activities in the
region today
• Lecture
• Class discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography and
Cultures ch. 17-
19
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 7: Africa: South of the Sahara
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.2, WG8.3, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying the Sub-Saharan Africa?
4. What has God said in His word that relates directly or indirectly to the religion/culture of this
region?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in
Africa: South
of the Sahara
and surround-
ing bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
Africa: South
of the Sahara
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of Africa:
South of the
Sahara
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 20-22
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 8: South Asia
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.2, WG8.3, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying the South Asia?
4. What has God said in His word that relates directly or indirectly to the religion/culture of this
region?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in
South Asia
and
surrounding
bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
South Asia
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of South Asia
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 23-25
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 9: East Asia
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.2, WG8.3, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10 Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying the East Asia?
4. What has God said in His word that relates directly or indirectly to the religion/culture of this
region?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in
East Asia and
surrounding
bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
East Asia
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of East Asia
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 26-28
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 10: Southeast Asia
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.2, WG8.3, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying the Southeast Asia?
4. What has God said in His word that relates directly or indirectly to the religion/culture of this
region?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in
Southeast
Asia and
surrounding
bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
Southeast
Asia
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of Southeast
Asia
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 29-31
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 11: Australia and Oceania
3 weeks
WG8.1, WG8.2, WG8.3, WG8.4, WG8.5, WG8.6, WG8.8, WG8.9, WG8.10
Essential Biblical Worldview Questions
1. How does Geography reveal God’s hand at work in the World?
2. What does human geography have to do with Christ’s call to disciple the nations?
3. What purpose should a Christian see in studying the Australia and Oceania?
4. What has God said in His word that relates directly or indirectly to the religion/culture of this
region?
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Label each
country in
Australia and
region in
Oceania and
surrounding
bodies of
water on a
blank map
• Explore the
physical
geography
(land, climate,
vegetation) of
Australia and
Oceania
• Examine the
cultural
geography
(population
patterns,
history,
government,
and culture)
of Australia
and Oceania
• Analyze the
economic
activities in
the region
today
• Lecture
• Class
discussion
• Completion of
section or unit
questions and
worksheets
from the
textbook
• Textbook:
Glencoe’s
World
Geography
and Cultures
ch. 32-34
• Completion of
questions and
worksheets
from textbook
• Teacher-made
quizzes
• Teacher-made
unit test
Unit 12: Geographic Dictionary Project
1st Quarter (approx. 9 weeks)
WG8.7
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Define the basic geography terms from their textbook
• Create a map in which they label the different geographic features defined above
• Develop a 20-question quiz with answer key using the terms defined above
• Teacher-made handouts
• Textbook: Glencoe’s World Geography and Cultures RA 2-3
• Teacher-made rubrics for the project
Unit 13: Passport to Europe Project
2nd Quarter (approx. 9 weeks)
WG8.6, WG8.7, WG8.8, WG8.10
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Create a 7-10 trip to a European country
• Research information about currency, language, documentation, visas, vaccinations, etc.
• Research major cities and historical attractions that should be visited
• Include flight, hotel, and transportation information
• Teacher-made handouts
• Internet • http://travel.state.gov/
• http://www.cdc.gov/
• Teacher-made rubrics for project
Unit 14: Geography Game Project
3rd Quarter (approx. 9 weeks)
WG8.5, WG8.7, WG8.8
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Demonstrate their knowledge of the geography of a specific region
• Create a map of the region complete with latitude and longitude lines as well as cities, major landforms, bodies of water, etc.
• Develop a 25 question game involving information from the textbook about that region
• Incorporate map-reading skills into their game
• Develop the skills to work together as a group
• Teacher-made handouts
• Textbook: Glencoe’s World Geography and Cultures
• Internet
• Teacher-made rubrics for project
• Group evaluation forms
Unit 15: Global Food Project
4th Quarter (approx. 9 weeks)
WG8.6, WG8.8
Objectives Methods Resources Assessment
The students will:
• Look up basic facts about their specific country
• Prepare a dish native to their country
• Teacher-made handouts
• Textbook: Glencoe’s World Geography and Cultures
• Encyclopedia
• Internet
• Teacher-made rubrics for project